Bus Rapid Transit in Guatemala City
Accessibility
Public transport in Guatemala City is in change, where the green Transmetro buses are taking over for the red "camionetas", over a periode of 10-15 years. Public transport is a necessity for the poor population, while also this group suffer the most from disabilities, the accessibility in this system can make the difference whether they can have a paying job or being dependent on the family, or worse, neither.
Universal design in general is a lost topic throughout the city, but access in the only available transport system is essential for social inclusion. This project (META - Movilidad Efectiva en Transito y Acceso) adresses: (1) solutions for the BRT stations, (2) access in the urban landscape around the stations and (3) accessible information of the system services.
Through Design without Borders I have worked with the municipality in Guatemala City to develop a design manual for accessibility in the current and future Transmetro lines in Guatemala City. The project, called META (Movilidad Efectiva en Transito y Acceso) is due bye spring 2009 and has given descriptions of the most pressing needs in the current Transmetro line The solutions are now ready for implementation in the new Transmetro lines throughout Guatemala City.
Design work: META Design manual | BRT station, design 3D & scale model | Ticket information kiosk / connection hub | Wayfinding system and signage | Transit information and graphics
(Ithrough "Design without borders", Norsk Form, Universidad Rafael Landivar, and "Movilidad Urbana" in the Municipality of Guatemala City, 2007 -2009)
More information:
Article in Access Exchange International (AEI) newsletter
Final Report META, download pdf (1 MB)
META manual, complete. download pdf (2.7 MB)
